The Judiciary Police (PJ) are warning members of the public to be vigilant against fraudulent text messages impersonating the “HKeToll” payment system, falsely claiming that the recipients’ accounts are “about to expire” and will incur “penalties”, according to a PJ statement yesterday.
“HKeToll” is a Hong Kong mobile app that enables motorists to pay tolls remotely using toll tags, without having to stop and queue up at toll booths for payments.
The statement noted that scammers have been sending phishing messages to random Macau mobile phone numbers, urging recipients to click on a link that leads to a counterfeit “HKeToll” website, where individuals are coerced into entering personal and credit card information, which will then be exploited by the scammers to make unauthorised transactions.
The Judiciary Police emphasised that the Hong Kong government has clarified they will never send messages containing links to vehicle owners. The statement particularly advised Macau residents who have received regular car quota allocations for travel between Macau and Hong Kong to refrain from clicking on any links or providing credit card details.
For any enquiries regarding tunnel tolls or billing, the public is encouraged to verify the information through official channels. If suspicious messages are received, individuals can turn to the Judiciary Police’s anti-fraud programme or contact their anti-fraud hotline on 8800 7777, or report any incidents through the emergency hotline on 993.
This poster provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday warns members of the public of the fake “pay bills for ‘HKeToll’” phishing SMS.
